Shelby Coates

Shelby Coates joined WTOC in November 2024, and she anchors the 5:00pm and 11:00pm newscasts. She brings more than a decade of journalism and news management experience to Southeast Georgia. Most recently, Shelby served as an executive producer at Spectrum News in Raleigh, North Carolina. She took a break from being on camera to manage producers and reporters in multiple newsrooms across the North Carolina for the 24/7 cable news channel.

Shelby returns to the Peach State, where she spent most of her journalism career in Macon, Georgia at 41NBC. She anchored the 11am, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 5:30pm, and 6pm newscasts. She also worked behind the scenes producing the 5:00pm newscast, training new journalists and managing newsroom assignments. Shelby also helped to format and launch the 4:00pm newscast during her time in Macon.

Prior to making Georgia home, Shelby worked in Evansville, Indiana as the Morning/Noon Anchor and Executive Producer for WEVV. She also spent time in Spartanburg/Greenville, South Carolina, as a weekend morning anchor and producer for WSPA-TV. Shelby also served as a reporter, receiving several honors for her investigative and consumer reporting. Shelby spent time as an anchor/education reporter in Chattanooga, Tennessee (WDEF) and Abilene, Texas (KRBC).

Shelby is a native of Clarksville, Tennessee. She graduated from Abilene Christian University in Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and Mass Communication and a minor in sociology.

When not on the anchor desk, Shelby has a passion for getting involved and empowering local communities. She enjoys church ministry, mentoring young people, public speaking, emceeing events, pageant coaching and judging.

Send her an email or news tip at Shelby.Coates@wtoc.com.